MEXICO CHAPTER 6 Gulf of California Mexico City Caribbean Sea Bay of Campeche

Mexico The Land Mexico forms part of a that connects North and South America. Rugged landscape- mountains, volcanoes, deep valleys. Located where of the Earth’s crust have collided for billions of years.

World earthquake fault zones

Mexico City Earthquake – September 1985 Earthquakes devastate Mexico City -- September 19, 1985 Violent earthquakes jolt Mexico City September 19-20, killing more than 7,000 people. About 3,300 buildings are destroyed or damaged. Damage is later estimated at more than $4.1 billion.

I. Borders - United States/Rio Grande River - Central America - Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea - Pacific Ocean

Regions of Mexico

II. Mountains and Plateau (3) Three ranges: (west) (east) (south) (north/central)

Mexico’s Landform Regions Sierra Madre Occidental Sierra Madre Oriental Sierra Madre Del Sur Plateau of Mexico

III. Coastal Lowlands Coastal plains along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.Coastal plains Many rivers (Rio Grande)rivers

Coastal Lowlands NORTH - Rio Grande WEST - Pacific Ocean EAST - Gulf of Mexico

Coastal Lowlands NORTH - Rio Grande WEST - Pacific Ocean EAST - Gulf of Mexico

IV. Climate Mountain ranges create 3 altitude zones 1. - “hot land”, hot and humid all year. Coastal plains (77°- 82° F). 2.- “temperate land”, milder/cooler as you climb the mountains (70° F). 3. – “cold land”, top of mountains, cold less vegetation (below 68 ° F).

Mexico’s Altitude Zones

Mexico The Economy Population – 109,955,400 (July 2008 est.) National Capital: Mexico City 22,000,000 ( ) Poor in fertile soil (only 11% of total land area can be farmed) Manufacturing and mining are vital to the economy 1/5 of the world’s silver (16%) Service industries – tourism and banking

Mexico’s Three Economic Regions North Central Mexico South

The North Some farming Mostly ranching Monterrey – leads the country in steel production Mining maquiladoras

Central Mexico Home to more than half the population Favorable conditions for agriculture Mexico City – at 22,000,000 “Ciudad de México” is the 3 rd largest city in the world Industrial cities – Mexico City and Guadalajara

The South poorest area / work found on plantations Subsistence farms tourism

Mexico’s History and Government Mexico's Native American and European heritage shapes the country's culture. The Mayan and Aztec civilizations were the best known of Mexico's early people. A Spanish colony, Mexico won its independence in Today Mexico's government is a federal republic.

Mexico Today More than 70 percent of Mexicans live in urban areas. Beautiful plazas and important buildings are located in the center of these cities. In the poorer sections, people make houses out of whatever material they can find. Farming is still important in Mexico, but manufacturing, service industries, and oil refining play larger roles in the economy. Mexico must find ways to handle its growing population, pollution, and foreign debt.